Game Night: Roots and Reflections

photo of friends Zakiya and Adetutu in traditional Nigerian attire at Adetutu's 30th B-Day celebration

On a warm Friday evening, the golden light of sunset spilled through the wide windows of Zakiya’s home. The house carried a blend of worlds; woven baskets from Ghana hung beside framed photographs of Black American family reunions and a kente cloth runner rested proudly across the dining table. The scent of ginger, garlic, and something sweet drifted from the kitchen.

Zakiya moved between the living room and kitchen with a clipboard in her hand and a grin that hinted she was up to something mischievous.

“Tonight,” she said, tapping the clipboard dramatically, “we are going to test how well we know our people.”

Her best friend, Adetutu, leaned against the kitchen island laughing softly. She wore a deep indigo dress and a string of coral beads around her neck that caught the evening light.

“You mean,” Adetutu corrected playfully, “test how well you think you know Africa.”

Zakiya placed a hand on her hip.

“Adetutu, my sister, I have been studying all week.”

The two women shared the easy laughter of friends whose bond had long ago crossed into sisterhood.

Zakiya’s name carried its own story. Her parents, proud Black Americans determined to reclaim something stolen generations ago, had changed their family name when she was in elementary school. They chose Zakiya, a name with East African roots meaning "pure and intelligent", to honor the ancestors whose names had been erased during slavery.

Across from her stood Adetutu, whose name came from the Yoruba people of Nigeria, meaning “the Crown is gentle.” Her grandmother often reminded her that the name was given to children who carry royal bloodlines.

“Royalty is in your posture,” her grandmother used to say. “Walk like you remember.”

Tonight, that royalty was leaning casually against a kitchen counter, helping arrange dinner and dessert for trivia night.

A knock sounded at the door.

“It's showtime!” Zakiya said excitedly.

The Guests Arrive

Malik was the first through the door, bringing a tray of jerk chicken.

“Game night?” he said. “I came ready to win.”

Behind him came Jade with sparkling cider, Omari with a couple of sweet potato pies, Faith carrying homemade lemonade, and Onyx holding a notebook.

“I’m keeping score,” Onyx announced. “Fair and square.”

Everyone settled into the living room where Zakiya had arranged two teams:

Team Diaspora: Malik, Jade, Faith

Team Roots: Omari and Onyx

Adetutu sat beside Zakiya as the official cultural consultant.

“Meaning if Kiya gets something wrong,” Adetutu said, smiling, “I will correct her.”

Everyone laughed.

Round One: Fashion

Zakiya raised the first trivia card.

“Alright. First question.”

She glanced at Adetutu, who lifted her coral beads with a playful flourish.

“In many West African cultures,” Zakiya began, “coral beads are worn in ceremonial attire and often represent status, wealth, or royalty.”

She paused dramatically.

“So here’s the question:”

“Coral beads worn in African attire are culturally equivalent to what accessory commonly worn in Black American fashion to symbolize pride, style, and identity?”

Malik slapped the table.

“Gold chains!”

Faith nodded.“Or layered gold jewelry.”

“Correct!” Zakiya said. “Gold jewelry; chains, earrings, and rings have long been expressions of style, pride, and cultural identity in Black American communities.”

Adetutu added, “Adornment tells stories everywhere.”

Onyx scribbled the point.

Round Two: Headwraps

Zakiya lifted another card.

“In many African cultures, women wear headwraps such as the Yoruba gele to signify elegance, celebration, or cultural pride.”

She looked around the room.

“So the question is—”

“What tradition in Black American culture reflects this same expression of beauty and heritage through head coverings?”

Jade’s eyes lit up.

“Headwraps and scarves worn by Black women today!”

Faith added, “Especially during cultural events, church, or everyday style.”

“Exactly!,” Zakiya said.

Adetutu nodded proudly and said, "No matter where we go, the crown remains!"

She tapped her finger and thumb together to signify the trending "clock it" statement.

Round Three: Food Traditions

The smell of food made everyone glance toward the kitchen.

Zakiya continued.

“In many parts of West Africa, jollof rice is a beloved celebratory dish.”

Malik leaned forward.

“I already know where this is going.”

Zakiya grinned.

“What staple dish in Black American cuisine carries a similar cultural importance at family gatherings and celebrations?”

“Rice and peas!” Omari said.

“Close,” Faith said. “But I’d say red rice or jambalaya.”

Adetutu raised a finger.

“Also dirty rice or seasoned rice dishes passed down through Southern cooking traditions.”

Zakiya nodded.

“All rooted in African rice traditions brought across the Atlantic.”

Onyx marked the score.

Round Four: Music

Zakiya tapped her card again.

“In many African cultures, drumming circles are used for storytelling, communication, and celebration.”

She leaned forward.

“What musical tradition in the Black diaspora carries a similar rhythmic storytelling role?”

“Hip-hop,” Malik said instantly.

“And gospel,” Jade added.

Omari chimed in, “And blues.”

“Correct,” Zakiya said. “Music as storytelling never left us.”

Adetutu smiled knowingly.

“Rhythm remembers.”

Final Round: Names

Zakiya hesitated before reading the final card.

“This one is personal.”

Everyone leaned in.

“In many African cultures, names carry deep meaning tied to ancestry, spirituality, or circumstance of birth.”

She placed the card down.

“What movement among Black Americans reflects a similar reclaiming of identity through naming?”

Faith spoke first.

“Changing names to African or meaningful names.”

Malik nodded.

“Like rejecting surnames tied to slavery.”

Zakiya stated. “That’s why my parents renamed our family.”

Adetutu placed a hand over hers. “Names are maps, fwen,” she said gently. “They lead us back to our roots.”

The Winner

Onyx closed the notebook.

“Team Diaspora wins by one point.”

Cheers filled the room.

But Zakiya lifted her glass. She was thoroughly impressed with how great trivia night went.

“Actually,” she said, smiling at everyone around her, “I think we all won.”

Everyone raised their glasses.

“To knowing our roots,” Malik said.

“To honoring them,” Faith added.

Adetutu looked around the room at friends laughing, food being passed, cultures weaving together like threads of the same cloth.

Then she said aloud:

“Across oceans, kingdoms, plantations, cities, and generations…”

She lifted her coral beads slightly.

“We are still remembering who we are.”

And the room hummed with that truth long after the trivia cards were put away.

About Kiyaza

Zakiya Hakizimana shares her writing talent as Kiyaza the Poet, a multifaceted author and creative whose work bridges poetry, design, and self-discovery. In her book Lost Between the Sheets, she invites readers into her intimate journey through relationships, friendships, and the layered experiences of life as a Black woman. Beyond her literary voice, Kiyaza channels her artistry into Water Lily Studios, a design platform of journals and planners, where she encourages creativity, organization, and self-sufficiency in everyday life.

Her latest creation, Poetry in Bloom, is a collection of handmade, framed poems adorned with pressed flowers, celebrating beauty, resilience, and the art of storytelling.

Kiyaza’s writing focuses on the raw and reflective journey of self-discovery while exploring love, loss, healing, and growth through the lens of a Black woman’s experience.

Connect with Kiyaza!

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